Burn Notice

Old Friends

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired 7/19/07

Episode Summary

Michael's friend Bill asks for the spy's help in freeing his daughter from a prostitution ring. Meanwhile, Michael dodges multiple assassination attempts.

8.9

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Cast & Crew

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Jeffrey Donovan

Michael Westen
Sharon Gless

Madeline Westen
Gabrielle Anwar

Fiona Glenanne

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is...

6.0

"Fair"

By MovieMark, Oct 01, 2011 Report Abuse

A slight upswing in storytelling this week, as Michael juggles babysitting his down and out brother while he attempts to rescue an old friend's daughter from a prostitution ring. There are quite a few stories running concurrently in this one, which certainly picks up the pace, but I'd like to see more attention paid to the likes of Fi and Sam, since they pretty much do the exact same thing each week: Fi does the recon, with the odd salacious advance thrown in, while Sam cracks jokes. A lot of jokes. Regardless, we do get some tidbits on Michael, and hopefully we'll see more assassins pop up during missions-of-the-week to provide some much-needed action (can we PLEASE stop pausing during fight scenes, eh? Let them play out!). As always, it's moderately entertaining stuff, with 'Old Friends' carrying a darker tone than previous weeks.moreless

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2 2
Still good

7.5

"Good"

By PabloExobar, Aug 21, 2010 Report Abuse

Okay, basically this was the same as the last episode. The main case was probably a little weaker but the overall plot progression was much better.

But surely, there's lots of room for improvement. one of the things this show could do is make a flashback episode where we see Michael going pro spy, because honestly, okay, he's a spy, and waa, everyone's aware of that, but these episodic cases are not really demanding for him it seems, as I have yet to see some cool spying.

All in all though, enjoyable episode, towards the end especially, as we reached to the usual 3 minute burn notice plot progress, lol.moreless

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good episode...

8.8

"Great"

By Fwirrel, Jul 27, 2008 Report Abuse

Michael is asked to find a man's daughter after she ran away to look for a modeling job. In this episode we meet Nate, which is Michael's brother. I thought their character interactions were halarious. I liked how they found the daughter and saved her. I also liked the continuation of the assasin plot. The assasin was able to shoot Michael, but Michael was able to get in the last punch. Overall, I liked the story in this episode, but not as much as some previous stories. I really liked the character interactions and developments and I can't wait to see what happens next!moreless

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Review

9.0

"Superb"

By cavanagh15, Jul 01, 2008 Report Abuse

The character devolopment took a bit of a hit in this episode. there wasn't a whole lot in tihs episode and I think that was the random introduction to Micheals brother. I wonder if he will become a main part to the story or if he was only a guest star for this one episode. I think they had a good thing going with the main four, adding another didn't seem like it was needed for a show like this using a standalone format to tell its story. The main story arch seems like its going to go back into Michaels past at some point. He cannot still put it together, which is kind of weird. I don't know if we are going to get a flashback episode at some point or what to kind of tie everything together. Overall, the episode was solid. Kept me entertained for 42 minutes but didnt blow me away.moreless

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Something felt a little off with this episode. But still a good showing.

8.0

"Great"

By hockey9927, Jul 27, 2007 Report Abuse

I dunno what it was but something in this episode didn't do it for me. It being only the fourth episode in to the series it's hard to gauge average. But this one didn't live up to the first three. It was still an exciting action packed episode and was interesting to see the interaction between Michale and his brother. Just goes to show that no matter what your siblings do to piss you off you can never truly get rid of em. I like the pace of the plot line. They are doing a great job of revealing enough to keep us interested in Michaels burn notice but not enough as to give it away to quickly. It's obvious that someone doesn't want him dead it'll be interesting to see what they have planned for him.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- In the scene where he has spiked Jan's hot dog with crushed peanuts, Michael is holding Jan's EpiPen in his fist. For most of the scene it is needle-end (black cap) up, but in one shot in the middle it is the other way up (grey cap at the top). Edit
- The Sandbar, Sam's favorite bar he says he can never go back to, now that Michael caused such a ruckus, is a real bar in Coconut Grove (an artsy neighborhood of Miami). Edit
- When Michael goes to the hotel where the assassin is staying, he comes out of the stairs on the fourth floor, but when he gets in the elevator, it clearly says he's on the seventh floor (the one the assassin is supposedly staying on). Edit
Notes
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Staří známí (Old Acquaintances) Edit
- Original International Air Dates: Brazil: October 23, 2007 on AXN New Zealand: November 25, 2007 on TV3 Australia: February 12, 2008 on TEN Czech Republic: March 5, 2008 on TV Prima Sweden: March 9, 2008 on TV6 United Kingdom: October 26, 2008 on FX Germany: October 19, 2009 on Vox Slovakia: February 18, 2010 on JOJ Finland: February 22, 2010 on MTV3 Edit
Quotes
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- Michael: (voice-over) Spies go to bars for the same reason people go to libraries, full of information. If you know how to ask. Edit
- Michael: (voice-over) The drive home is often a grueling experience for someone you just rescued. Especially if they were unaware of their situation. They ask a lot of questions, you fill them in on the answers. And then it dawns on them: the truth. It can be a little overwhelming. Edit
- Michael: (voice-over) Running an operation, you can't let personal feelings get in the way. It's about planning and execution, not about being angry...although occasionally, you may get a little angry. Edit
Allusions
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- Sam: I don't want to do anything to compromise my pension. If I don't have it, you'll have to take care of me when I'm 95 and drooling into my pillow. Michael: Don't worry I'll smother you with my pillow before that happens. Sam: Thanks you're such a good friend. This is an allusion to the end of the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest when Randle has been reduced to a drooling simpleton by a lobotomy. Chief Bromden then smothers him because he can't stand to see him that way. Edit